Suspected Tamil Tigers throw hand grenade at Security Forces

Sep 16 (SLA) An unidentified suspected Tamil Tiger threw a hand grenade towards a roadblock, manned by Sri Lanka Air Force personnel in the general area of ANURADHAPURA junction, TRINCOMALEE on Thursday (15) around 8.00 p.m..
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One more grenade attack on a civilian’s house

Sep 16 (SLA) A hand grenade attack in SEVANAPITIYA village area, WELIKANDA damaged a house and a vehicle inside the compound on Thursday (15) around 10.15 p.m. Troops from BOATTA detachment immediately rushed to the location and searched the area.
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Unidentified dead body brought into cleared areas

Sep 16 (SLA) On a request made by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), a representative of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) had brought down the remains of a civilian from un-cleared areas in PALAKKADU, BATTICALOA on 15 September 2005 around 10.00 p.m..
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Warm welcome to Indian National Defence College delegates

Sep 16 (SLA) A group of twenty-one delegates, most of who are course participants at the National Defence College (NDC) of India on an invitation extended to them by the Sri Lanka Army, are now in Sri Lanka as part of their field study tour in the course.
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Peoples Memorandum on the Adverse effects of the propose Sethusamudram ship Canal project

Sep 16 (SN) This petition is served on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka, taking into consideration environmental and social factors relevant to them. Nevertheless we would like to emphasize that we do focus on the environmental and social impact of this project on India, the Asian region and elsewhere as well.
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Offices closed only till the end of elections – Wanni tigers

Sep 16 (LT) Wanni tigers’ Puliyankulam political wing leader, Wardhan said at a meeting held at Puliyankulam Vidyalaya that they closed their political camps until the Presidential election is over and they will re-open them after the elections.
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Thodaman’s votes not necessary for us – T Maheswaran

Sep 16 (LT) Since the 1-1 1/2 lakhs Tamil votes in the estate sector will be shared among the Tamil leaders like Messrs. Chandrasekaran, Sathasivam and Puthrasigamani, Mr Arumugam Thondaman will get only a least amount of votes says Parliamentarian Mr T Maheswaran.
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Mahinda claims Rs 1 billion from UNP Deputy General Secretary

Sep 16 (LT) Prime Minister has sent a letter of demand to Mr Tissa Attanayake, Deputy General Secretary of the UNP claiming Rs 1 billion for making false allegations on “Helping Hambantota” Account that he has misused money.
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Transparency International tries to root out political stooges

Sep 16 (LBO) Transparency International is urging stricter controls to prevent political appointments to top public sector posts if a new President is elected this year. Sri Lanka’s public sector and diplomatic corps, at least since the 1970’s, have been used to reward political supporters and staunch party loyalists by successive governments.
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President Kumaratunga and Head of EU confer in New York

Sep 16 (PRIU) President Chandrika Kumaratunga met with Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso President of the EU Commission yesterday afternoon [14th September] at the UN Head Quarters in New York. After the initial exchange of pleasantries the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
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The need to regularize postal voting is highlighted

Sep 16 (SLBC) The Department of the Elections Commissioner points out that as a result of the irregularities when casing postal votes various malpractices take place. It also causes the rejection of many votes. The main reason for this is the lack of proper information in application forms for casting postal vote.
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Ranil to adopt "unifying policies": UNP

Sep 16 (Hindu) Sri Lanka's main Opposition, the United National Party (UNP), on Thursday said its Presidential candidate, Ranil Wickremesinghe, would follow a policy of "division of authority, without division of territory," to solve the island-nation's decades-long separatist conflict.
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Just solution first, disarmament later: LTTE

Sep 16 (PIS) The LTTE will not lay down arms before a final solution that meets the aspirations of the Tamil people in the North and East. LTTE media spokesman Daya Master says the rebel leadership is firm on the stand that an agreement which meets the needs of the Tamil people should be arrived at and implemented before the LTTE lays down arms.
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Mahinda’s agreements disastrous: UNP

Sep 16 (SAMN) The agreements between Premier Mahinda Rajapakse and the JVP and JHU will be a serious threat to the national economy, national security and the entire country, UNP spokesman G.L. Peiris said yesterday. Prof. Peiris said the agreements with the JVP and the JHU were politically beneficial to the UNP but were unhealthy for the country.
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Bandaranaike still stands by Rajapakse ?

Sep 16 (SAMN) In a statement issued from New York yesterday, Foreign Minister Anura Bandaranaike clarified certain media reports published in Colombo. He said: "I am presently attending the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations in New York with the President Chandrika Kumaratunga and several other Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
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LTTE working towards UDI

Sep 16 (LNP) Intelligence reports seen by The Island reveals that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are working towards Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in the near future thereby taking the international community for a ride.
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Chief Magistrate declines to hear Sumathipala Case

Sep 16 (LNP) Citing personal reasons, the Colombo Chief Magistrate on Wednesday declined to hear the case against former Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala. Chief Magistrate Sarojini Kusala Weerawardana having listened to more than half of the evidence declined to proceed further saying it was not proper for her to hear the case.
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Bribery Commission`s appeal, only to prolong his agony: SB

Sep 16 (LNP) Former Minister S.B. Dissanayake, in his objection to the appeal filed by the Bribery Commission against his acquittal by the High Court of all charges of bribery, alleged the sole purpose of the Bribery Commission`s appeal application was to prolong his agony by maintaining the allegation before court during the coming months
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Two German swimming champions to coach tsunami affected children

Sep 16 (Xinhua) Two German swimming champions Nadine Kuhn and Juliane Bothner will coach tsunami affected children in Sri Lanka. The aim of the two German swimming champions is to make the children aware of the importance of learning to swim at an early age as it is not only a sport but also helps to save lives,
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50,000 Lankans die annually of liquor, cigarettes - Dr. Fernando

Sep 16 (DN) Secretary to the Committee for control of tobacco and liquor of the Sri Lanka Society of Medicine Dr. Manoj Fernando revealed that 50,000 persons died per year in Sri Lanka as a result of consuming liquor and smoking cigarettes of that number nearly 30,000 persons died due to liquor consumption while other 20,000 died due to smoking.
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Sri Lanka on overseas public diplomacy rampage: Kumaratunga

Sep 16 (AT) Sending her top advisor and head of the Peace Secretariat Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala on a week-long public diplomacy campaign in America’s capital, Washington, whose finger prints are often seen in many developments and trends worldwide, on a new crusade against LTTE,
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Muralitharan rubbishes rumours

Sep 16 (CI) Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's master spinner, has dismissed rumours regarding his alleged connection with a Mumbai bar dancer and, through her, with the betting syndicates. Over the past week there has been intense speculation in certain sections of the Indian media on the renewed threat of match-fixing.
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Rains affect major Buddhist shrine at Sanchi

Sep 16 (IANS) Heavy rains in Madhya Pradesh have affected the Sanchi stupa, one of the most sacred and oldest Buddhist shrines across the world and a UNESCO world heritage site. According to sources in the ASI, water is leaking through the roof into the 16-metre high and 37-metre in diameter stupa at Sanchi, 46 km north of state capital Bhopal.
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Sri Lanka to extend emergency laws for another month

Sep 16 (AFP) Sri Lanka announced that a state of emergency enforced after the assassination of the foreign minister would be extended for another month, despite opposition from Tamil Tiger rebels. Government spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva told reporters on Friday that an extension resolution would go before parliament next week.
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Sri Lankan govt says no agreement with Tigers on talks

Sep 16 (Xinhua) The Sri Lankan government said Friday that no agreement had been reached with the Tamil Tigers on the venue for the proposed talks to review the truce agreement between the two former warring parties.
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Sri Lanka Government Protests Rebels' Detention of Policemen

Sep 16 (AP) Sri Lanka's government Friday strongly protested the detention by Tamil Tiger rebels of three policemen who ventured into the insurgents' territory last week while pursuing a suspected British pedophile.
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JVP learnt democratic politics from SLMC – Hasan Ali Reacts

Sep 16 (LM) The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Secretary General ,M.T.Hasan Ali MP, challenged the JVP to prove that it has the same support as during the last general election by fielding its own candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
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SLMC observes party founder Marhoom Ashraff’s commemoration

Sep 16 (LM) The SLMC is commemorating today (September 16) the fifth death anniversary of its founding father Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff in the Eastern cities of Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara. A commemoration meeting at the hill country capital Kandy will be held tomorrow.
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Waiting in the wings

Sep 16 (CI) For Sajeewa Weerakoon, the road to international recognition is still some distance away despite the number of times he has produced match-winning performances for the Sri Lanka A team. The orthodox left-arm spinner from BRC has been knocking on the door and sounding out the national selectors with a kind of consistency that no other cricketer in recent times has managed.
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Norway sending Furhovde to get CFA review talks started

Sep 16 (ANN) Norway is to send former chief of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Trond Furuhovde, to Colombo to start talks on the proposed Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE).
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Post tsunami road reconstruction takes off

Sep 17 (LBO) Cabinet this week approved US$ 310 million in donor funding to reconstruct 1137 kilometers of road and 25 major bridges in the tsunami affected coastal regions. Road Development Authority’s Tsunami Project Coordinator S Meihandan on Friday said reconstruction contracts will be awarded later this year or early next year.
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SLA, Police cordon, search Batticaloa suburbs

Sep 17 (TN) More than five-hundred soldiers of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police cordoned off and searched Sinna Urani and Iruthayapuram, two outer suburbs of Batticaloa town Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., civilian sources said. SLA soldiers collected family details of selected households in the area.
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TRO opens first reconstructed village in Jaffna District

Sep 17 (TN) 'Aattu Patti' a village in Karaveddy North, Jaffna District, the first village to have been reconstructed by the Tamils rehabilitation Organizatino (TRO) with ADB funding under the Social Reconstruction programme was declared open and handed over to the beneficiaries on 14 September,
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Sri Lanka amends consent law

Sep 17 (BBC) The cabinet of ministers in Sri Lanka have decided to amend the current laws to reduce the age of consent. Justice Minister John Senevirathne said the government is proposing to reduce the age of consent of the girls for sexual encounters to 13 years.
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Man from Sri Lanka breaks record for most hours watching TV

Sep 17 (AP) A man from Sri Lanka on Friday broke the Guinness world record for the longest time spent watching TV. He finished with 69 hours and 48 minutes. Suresh Joachim did his TV viewing in the lobby of WABC-TV as part of the "Guinness World Record Breaker Week" on the syndicated talk show "Live With Regis and Kelly."
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Sep 17 (AT) “I experienced first-hand a concerted campaign to prevent me from traveling to Tamil Eelam. Before I left Sydney, the editorial advisor and head of the Australian Bureau of the “Asian Tribune” alleged I was carrying nearly $100, 000. 00 cash into Sri Lanka alleged Virginia Judge a New South Wales state parliament. “
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48 hours in Kandy

Sep 17 (TA) COLOMBO may claim Sri Lanka's top billing, but it's in Kandy where you'll find this island nation's most prized jewels. After arriving in chaotic Colombo, there are several ways to escape to the Sri Lankan hill town of Kandy. Catch a tourist bus, employ your own driver or, best of all, take the local train in the tourist carriage.
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Mahinda broke agreement with UNP - Ranil Wickremasinghe

Sep 17 (LT) The fundamental agreements reached between him and the SLFP have been broken by the Prime Minister says Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe, UNP leader and Presidential candidate of the party. The concept about a “united Sri Lanka” was first brought up by Chandrika and Norwegians too were brought by her said Mr. Wickremasinghe.
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Monetary institutions will not be privatized - Mahinda Rajapakse

Sep 17 (LT) Key monetary centers will never be privatized says SLFP Presidential candidate Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. “They are asserts of the country. They belong to the people of the country. Hence such key centers which are important for the economy of the country will never be sold,” said Mr. Rajapakse
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Embassy mulls mandatory insurance for Lankan maids

Sep 17 (TP) Recruiting agencies in Qatar may have to soon begin buying insurance cover for Sri Lankan maids when they arrive here to take up jobs. Having raised the minimum salary limit for its women taking up a maid's job in Qatar to QR600 from QR450 a month recently, Colombo is now keen to ensure they have a mandatory insurance cover as well.
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Sharp drop in sausage sale

Sep 17 (TP) The controversy over the discovery of a worm infested pack of sausages from a well-known supermarket that attracted a lot of media attention in the Sri Lankan media, has caused a sharp drop in sales of all brands of sausages in super markets, well informed sources told the Daily Mirror.
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Mannar has become a garrisoned city, says Citizens Committee

Sep 17 (TN) Mannar Citizens' Committee (MCC) Friday complained to Mr.V.Visvalingam, Government Agent of the district that Mannar town has become a garrisoned city with the deployment of several hundred additional government troops and establishment of new checkpoints and sentries.
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Former Valikamam local Govt. councillor shot dead

Sep 17 (SLA) An Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) politician resident in the general area of VAVUNIYA for fear of reprisals of tigers was brutally slain Friday night at about 9.20 p.m by Tamil tigers while he was on his way back home at TEAKKAWATTA Junction, VAVUNIYA.
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Abducted child escapes

Sep 17 (SLA) A seventeen year old teenager abducted by suspected Tamil tigers from the general area of PUTTALAM has reportedly managed to escape and returned home on 15 September 2005 around 3.00 p.m. The victim was on his push bicycle to attend a private tuition class
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Transport of essential items to un-cleared areas continues

Sep 17 (SLA) One thousand eight hundred and forty two (1,842) loads of food and other essential items had been dispatched to un-cleared areas in the northern province during the period between 09 September 2005 and 15 September 2005.
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Men with weapons arrested

Sep 17 (SLA) Security Forces and on Police roadblock duty in the general area of MAHA KUMARATHUNGA MAWATHA, COLOMBO arrested two suspicious men on a motorbike with 9 mm browning type pistol, 10 rounds of 9 mm pistol, 30 packets of 20 mg each narcotics, 02 mobile phones and a sum of Rs 19090 on 19 September 2005 around 3.00 p.m.
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Bribery chief gets tough on election offenders

Sep 17 (CT) The Bribery Commission will prosecute any person using state property in the upcoming presidential election, it was announced yesterday. Chairman, Permanent Commission Investigating Allegations of Bribery and Corruption, Justice Ameer Ismail told The Morning Leader the use of any state property for election purposes was an offence under Section 70 of the Bribery Act
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Samurdhi scheme could be a model - ILO Chief tells Kumaratunga

Sep 17 (PRIU) Mr. Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Organization [ILO] called on President Chandrika Kumaratunga at her New York hotel suite yesterday afternoon [16th September]. Mr. Somavia invited Sri Lanka to play a greater role following its election to the governing body of the ILO.
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